I'd like some oppinions....

N

NickM

Joined
May 1, 2002
Messages
43
Hello,

Please bear with me. I've been reading numerous posts lately about all kinds of knives. I recently, (in the last year) have become "knife crazy" and have gone through numerous blades. My last post probably gave some people an idea how I am. Anyways, I think I like a knife, buy it and typically use it for a bit and sell it. I'm not a collecter, but I am a user. However, my uses are not professional, but recreational like camping, backpacking, etc. Typically, there has been nothing wrong with my knives, and I've had brands such as CRKT, cold steel, Kabar, Buck, Benchmade, Becker, Camillus, and Spyderco. So far out of around 20 knives only 3 remain, which are the benchmade R&R, Spyderco Cricket, and the CS SRK (which I just bought). I'm currently a college student so my budget really isn't the greatest. I work a lot so I do have a decent disposable budget and I received a scholarship so I have money for my toys (tools in this case). Basically, what I'm getting to is do you think that a Busse, Strider, and other high priced knives are worth the money for a recreational user? To date the only knives I've broken are CRKT's. I love what I hear about Busse's and others, but every time I go to buy one I just don't think its money well spent when I can go out and by a Becker Companion for $65 or a CS SRK for as low as $30. Sorry for rambling, but I'd be greatful to hear your oppinions.

Nick
 
Take a look at the Swamprat Knives (they have a forum here in the manufacturers section). They are "basically Busses". The company is run by Jennifer Busse, and they have an incredible warranty - YOU, the ab-user, decide if your damage is warrantable...:eek: . The prices run from $90 - $150... Definitely worth a look.

Also take a look at some of the SOGs, depending on size, their new Field Knife or smaller Field Pup are great knives and good value. They also have a forum here.

Fallkniven have a good reputation as well.

Others will, no doubt chime in as well.

Welcome to knife collecting... the buy, use then sell is nothing uncommon...

Rob
 
I do not believe that Busse knives are designed for the outdoorsman, but for the Military. There's a big difference. You'd probably not be happy with Busse cutting performance on common outdoor tasks. They are more suited for extreme uses, which thickens the edge past what outdoorsman normally require in a knife.

I'd recommend Marbles and Blackjack for production outdoor knives. They are solid and dependable cutters, designed for outdoor use with convex edges, and won't bust your wallet.

Even better, Bob Dozier makes VERY reasonably priced fixed blades; probably cheaper than the production knives you have in mind. Nobody complains about a Dozier not making the cut. Nobody.
 
Your experience sounds like me whenever I start a new hobby. I'd buy a bike, then new front forks, then new cams, then a new carburator to feed the cams, and so on. Then I'd sell the bike. Oh, and the Mustangs had so many more shiny things under the hood!

With knives, it was more of a case of 'mission creep.' I started out with a 90 buck 970SBT, then a Microtech Tanto, and so on. I've owned +60 knives, and maybe 15 remain, and not the ones I started with.

We all joke about our 'addiction,' but it wasn't really bringing me happiness, and at 52 years old I wasn't going to wear anything out in my life time. So, I'm eliminating the fancy, shiny, worthless stuff and keeping the things that I need, hang what my friends say.

When I sold my Bangor Punta 629's because they were junk and bought a 624, my friends said, "But, Ichabod, it's not a magnum." When I sold four SOCOM Tantos, the same folks shook their heads. I bought a Strider AR because it works for ME, I don't have to baby it, and it does what my journey sought, it cuts things.

Don't make the man fit the knife. You have ideas and things that make you happy. If those things are solved by a four dollar Pakistani knife, so be it. If a Busse works, then go for it.
 
Originally posted by NickM
Hello,

Anyways, I think I like a knife, buy it and typically use it for a bit and sell it. I'm not a collecter, but I am a user. However, my uses are not professional, but recreational like camping, backpacking, etc. Typically, there has been nothing wrong with my knives, and I've had brands such as CRKT, cold steel, Kabar, Buck, Benchmade, Becker, Camillus, and Spyderco. So far out of around 20 knives only 3 remain, which are the benchmade R&R, Spyderco Cricket, and the CS SRK (which I just bought).

Nick
Click to expand...

I know this is opening a can of worms, but it seems to me that your BM RR and CS SRK, should pretty much cover fixed blades for most camping and especially back packing. Have you thought about a multitool and/or a SAK (with a wood saw)?
You could spend alot of time searching the forums and reading every one's opinions on multitools and SAKs, and you will likely go through a few yourself before you find the ones that you like best.

- Frank.
 
I'll give you a different spin on things.

Almost any of us can do what we want/need to do with any knife.

I feel that buying more expensive knives is not so much how much better they perform, but how much more enjoyment I get from them. This is especially true with fixed blades.

Will a Becker cut up a watermelon as good as a Busse? Sure will. But the enjoyment of owning a Busse and the pride involved in owning it takes the experience to a whole new level.

This coming from a guy who has never owned a Busse. But you can insert the name of any custom maker or high end brand in there.

I buy expensive knives because there is a lot of pride in their ownership, and I love knowing that I have a precision made piece of equipment with me.

I do feel that if you micro analyze every possible facet of a knife in most cases the more you spend the better off you'll be. Of course, there are some $500 custom knives out there that I would not rate any better than some CRKT pieces.

Some day you'll have to pick out a new car if you haven't already. If you have the money you can choose between a BMW and a Chevy, both will get you where you want to go but there is a lot more at work than just going from a to b.

Ultimately you need to decide what kind of value you feel a knife gives you. Not so much from a pure utilitarian aspect but from the amount of enjoyment you get from its ownership.

You should read this thread for some really interesting insight to this topic.

Have fun, buy what you like and don't go broke doing it ;)
 
I'm also a college student, on the verge of buying a Strider. I'm still waiting to see how soon the SnG will be available.

In the past, I would have been satisfied with just any old blade. Same goes for any other of the numerous addicting vices that BF forumites have. I managed with a Mini-maglite AA. I used a Victorinox Tinker for years, without ever thinking about getting a locking blade. :)

But once I discovered BF... everything changed. For the first time, I wanted the best. I'm a student. I don't go on military missions (but I do frequent the convenience store on the corner, it gets robbed once every 2 weeks). Now when I want to buy gadgets, I find out there's a forum, and I'm sucked into *needing* the best of the best. The credit card statements ain't pretty. At this rate, I think *I'll* be the one robbing the convenience store.

Oh, one more thing. If you don't buy the best, you'll just keep reading about it on the forums, and you'll get what I call the "Strider itchies".
 
No offense to anyone, but it is funny to read your posts. I feel the same way. I realize that I have all of the knives I need, especially fixed blades. I also do carry a SAK or Leatherman when I go out. I now comes down to pure wants. I'm crazy about having the huge V-8 under the hood of my truck, or the most powerful flashlight I can afford etc. Now, since I've had so many production knives ( I said 20, but it could be more. I lost count) I want to know I have the best, and most indestructable knife made. So then, if Busse's aren't the way to go for an outdoorsmen, the Marble, Dozier, and Black Jack? Oh well, I guess we can all blame the addiction on this website. Thanks for the oppinions.

Nick

By the way, I also recently switched from the maglites to a surefire and inova as well all because of this site.:)
 
Remember that "best" has many different interpretations. I tend to look for handle comfort and cutting efficiency in an outdoor knife. I usually test an outdoor knife on materials like wood, leather and meat, and then ease of "field sharpening". Durability falls into place after these initial criteria have been met. If the knife doesn't cut well, I don't care how indestructible it is.

Busse makes excellent knives and uses wonderful steel, but they are suited to a much different purpose than most of us outdoorsman need. An outdoor knife is often called upon to whittle wood, clean fish and game. These just aren’t the areas where a Busse excels. The designs lean more toward prying and penetration, and have grinds thick enough to support these operations. Great stuff, but a little too thick for outdoor work, IMHO.

The Marbles and Blackjacks are pure outdoor knives, especially when you examine the styles of their blades. The basic designs have been around for a century, and work just as well now as they did back then. The only downside is that the sheaths are not always of the best quality. Many people end up buying aftermarket sheaths for these knives, or making their own.

Dozier knives are just pure pleasure. The handles are perfect and the sheaths are first rate. Some models are ground thinner than others, but there are many styles to choose from. And because Bob Dozier is a custom maker, he can make changes to his popular designs, in order to best fit your needs. All you have to do is ask. Bob’s D2 is a sensational steel for a small fixed blade. It holds an edge for a long, long time, and is reasonably easy to sharpen. If you take a look on his website, Bob just put up a new web forum. If you read some of the recent posts, you’ll get an idea of just what kind of performance you can expect from a Dozier. Very impressive.
 
>"do you think that a Busse, Strider, and other high priced knives are worth the money for a recreational user?"

=============================

No, not at all. Better to save your money and buy a good backpack, then take a bus to Alaska for a summer and camp. Or hike the AT. Or go use a SAK to open wine bottles for nubile Hungarian college girls in Budapest. You're not going to tell your grandkids about the Strider you bought, right? Better to be possessed by passion than possessions. If someone gave me a Sebenza tomorrow, I'd sell it the next day and use the money to do something cool (or pay off some bills :( but, hey, I'm an old married guy now).
 
Originally posted by mnblade
>"do you think that a Busse, Strider, and other high priced knives are worth the money for a recreational user?"

=============================

use a SAK to open wine bottles for nubile Hungarian college girls in Budapest
Click to expand...

Now that's the best idea I've heard all day!!! I've got my SAK handy, now how to I get some of those bidepal young budababes?!?!?!?!
 
I think you guys have the right idea. Basically since I'm not going to war any time soon I see the lack of need for a Busse (I still like them though). Since I have the SRK, I think I will use that as an abuse knife. I did look at the Dozier, and really like them. The $150 price tag doesn't seem all that bad either. I am also partial to D2 steel. I like the General Purpose and the Profesional Guides knife (any input on the two would be great). Anyways, when I break my SRK I'll buy a Busse or something else. In the end I don't think that will happen any time soon. Thanks for the opinions, and I'm off with my SAK to see the those young college girls.

Nick
 
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